Council takes on €3.8m pool project despite warning

DESPITE warnings of getting into another “Jeanie Johnson debacle”, Kerry County Council has agreed to guarantee a €3.8m State grant for a pool and leisure centre in Ballybunion.

The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism would only pay out the €3.8m for the €5m facility if the council undertook to repay the grant in the event of the project being a flop.

On the recommendation of head of finance John O’Connor and manager Martin Riordan, the council agreed the undertaking on a 17-5 vote.